Hood to Coast: Gettin' All Crazy and Running Together

In what has turned into one giant extravaganza of fun, the Hood to Coast race is the world's longest relay, and apparently, the world's wackiest. This weekend's event is dubbed the mother of all relays, but the participants (who are more like trained party-goers than trained athletes) use it as an opportunity to act like kids again and do some good while their at it.

Over the years, runner Christoph Baaden captured four drastically different teams tackling the 197 mile race from Mt. Hood through Portland, Ore. and finishing in Seaside, Ore. In his documentary Hood to Coast, it's obvious that the diversity of participants varies as much as the terrain, yet they all put themselves through torture for an unbeatable bonding experience and adrenaline rush.

"It's really like Woodstock moving down a road," said one of the runners in the Hood to Coast trailer.

So why do it? Some say it's because misery loves company and that togetherness turns into fun. Some people are simply hardcore enthusiasts; and others just use it as a excuse to be immature and let loose.

"You're going to be up for 36 hours in a row, you're going to run 15 to 20 miles –– let's face it –– it's not a natural thing you're doing," said a member of the Dead Jocks team featured in the film.

In the end it's probably just about coming together and accomplishing something unbelievable with friends. "It's an epic race, but you can't do epic all by yourself," he said. "You get 12 people together and you can do anything."

Of course doing good for yourself also leads to doing good for others. The Hood to Coast fundraiser this year is going to the American Cancer Society.

Photo and trailer courtesy of the Hood to Coast Movie.